NZFF

by **Adamski** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:14 pm

I really don't want to spoil Gavin's amazing pictures by posting my efforts in his thread. After deleting 400 out of focus, badly lit, or horrendously cropped pics I ended up with a mere handful. These are the best I could do.

I know they're not *that* bad, but they really don't do justice to the show (I went on Saturday). As before, it was incredibly well organised - both on the ground and in the air. There was hardly a second when something wasn't happening - and very little overlap. What a wealth of warbirds!!! - and they weren't miserly with their displays either - going up more than once, the last time for an all-in mock battle which sounds corny, but was very effective. Noise, explosions - and warplanes whizzing everywhere. Seeing a Spit or P-40 alone in a clear blue sky is one thing, but seeing it streak through smoke, ack-ack effects and general clatter was another thing altogether. Wonderfully co-ordinated and a tribute to all - even the Axis/Allies fighting it out on the ground!

The jets were superb as well. All the popular regulars, but this time graced by a superb Hunter. We all became schoolboys again. Always appreciated, the Harvard team was a marvelous sight ... the Yaks ... and even three Stearmans - not to mention the heart-stopping Pitts/Extra displays.

We really are blessed in NZ to have so many opportunities to see real warbirds perform for us. Their flying hours must be so limited. We ought to cherish every moment.

So much easier when they're on the ground ... and not moving very fast!

The notorious ZK-CAG "Currawong"

Doug Brooker's 2-seat fly-about

Brendon's!

Finally - I can't let this post go without my old favourite!

by **Ian Warren** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:44 am

Nice photo Adam , we won't see a show like that anymore in Christchurch now the venues are gone . Great Pics

by **Charl** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:51 am

Adam I'll pay you the best compliment I can by saying I wish I'd taken your #9 inverted Spitfire shot... just lovely.

I mostly took video on this outing, so hopefully will have something before the end of 2012!

They let us play with the old lady before departure from Ardmore, so did pluck a few stills:

She's been very nicely tarted up.
But nothing can change the lumpiness of a Dakota flight at 3000 ft ...

by **Ian Warren** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:57 am

Nice photos Charl , I was looking for some textures i could use with that little extra detail .. little snippet will do the trick quiet nicely if its ok to use , for a photo Neptune i,m working on

by **Charl** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:08 pm

Absolutely... I have a whole bunch if you need anything specific.

by **Adamski** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:16 pm

Charl wrote:
QUOTE (Charl @ Jan 30 2012,11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Adam I'll pay you the best compliment I can by saying I wish I'd taken your #9 inverted Spitfire shot... just lovely.

They let us play with the old lady before departure from Ardmore, so did pluck a few stills:

She's been very nicely tarted up.
But nothing can change the lumpiness of a Dakota flight at 3000 ft ...

Thanks, Charl. I must admit, that inverted shot seems to capture the pure grace and poetry of the Spitfire more than any of the other pics. It was a lucky "click" as so many of my other pics we ruined by my inability to conquer the camera. I really must RTFM!

Did you fly down in the Dak? What a treat. BobL and I went down to Ohakea in it a year or two back and have hardly stopped smiling since! We're hoping to repeat the adventure, but it's hopelessly over-subscribed, with only so many seats.

by **Charl** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:36 pm

In a strange way the Spit "got" to me at this airshow.
Might have been the same flypast as your #8, Adam, a second or two earlier perhaps, I got goose-flesh about this lone craft returning to its base in the face of enormous adversity blah blah blah.
There was a momentary hush over the airfield too, so you heard the exhaust note, it barks a particular way at just such a point in the flypast.
Fabulous.

QUOTE

Did you fly down in the Dak?[/quote]Yes I love flying in to an airshow, so on the spur of the moment took a chance with the Dak and got aboard.
it also solves the parking issue

and you get to go close and personal with stuff on the airside.
I was surprised they parked the Hunter so far from the crowd at Tauranga, so was lucky they parked the Dak next to it for the return flight.

Last edited by Charl on Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

NZFF

Tauranga Air Show - the alternative pics!

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